1828 Horsburgh Blueback Nautical Chart of Eastern Philippines (Mindanao, Leyte)

This is an 1828 James Horsburgh blueback nautical chart or maritime map of the eastern Philippines, including the islands of Samar, Leyte, and Cebu (Zebu), as well as parts of the islands of Luzon (Luconia), Panay, Negros, and Mindanao. Numerous coastal locations are labeled on many of the Philippine Islands, including Cebu City (Zebu), as well as points, straits, and bays. Myriad smaller islands are also identified, and Palau (Pellew Islands) is illustrated in the lower right corner. A detailed inset map of Manila Bay is situated along the top border and features numerous depth soundings, identifies coastal settlements, and the lighthouse at Manila.

Little Known Seas

Two different routes to China passing through the North Pacific Ocean are illustrated, with one stated to be best 'from April to September' and the other 'from November to April'. The latter course diverges near the top of the sheet, as a mariner could choose whether they wanted to travel north or south of the Bashee Islands. While the whole of this chart appears to be accurate and full of detail, Horsburgh opens his 'Explanatory Notes' just to the right of the Manila Bay inset in this manner: 'The East Coast of Mindanao is very Imperfectly Known, as few of the Islands comprised in This Chart have been carefully Surveyed along their Coasts…'. He continues with advice concerning the best courses to take during monsoon season, from late November through December, so as to avoid the dangers of these waters.

Blueback Charts

Blueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century. Bluebacks, as they came to be called, were privately published large format nautical charts known for their distinctive blue paper backing. The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper traditionally used by publishers to wrap unbound pamphlets, was adopted as a practical way to reinforce the low-quality paper used by private chart publishers in an effort to cut costs. The earliest known blueback charts include a 1760 chart issued by Mount and Page, and a 1787 chart issued by Robert Sayer. The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade. Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chartmakers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chartmakers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th century, when government subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey, began issuing their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement.

Publication History and Census

This chart was created and published by James Horsburgh in 1828. We note two cataloged examples in OCLC which are part of the collections at Harvard University and the National Library Board of Singapore. It is rarely seen on the private market.